Mrs Lilley and husband, Albert, brought up daughter, Odetta Wilson and son, Wayne, in a home that shared a respect for their doctor, Harold Shipman.

But the Hyde GP killed the retired cotton warper with a fatal overdose of diamorphine during a house call on April 25, 1997.

Daughter Odette Wilson told police her mother was her best friend who held Shipman in the highest regard as a doctor.

Such faith led them to believe - like so many more - that Mrs Lilley's sudden death was not suspicious. Indeed, when Mrs Lilley's funeral took place at Hyde Cemetery one week later the family asked for all service donations to passed on to Shipman's patients fund. The donations exceeded £300.

During the trial, neighbour Elizabeth Hunter explained how she had been with Mrs Lilley hours beforehand.

Mrs Hunter said her friend was 'full of zest, full of life'. "I left her laughing, we were laughing and joking," she told the court.

"She was looking forward to going shopping with her husband on Saturday for clothes for her future grandchild."

Mrs Hunter had returned to her friends' Jackson Street house after noting Shipman had spent 50 minutes with Mrs Lilley.

Mrs Hunter was shocked to found her friend was now dead. An ambulance was called and Shipman returned following a call to his surgery.

Shipman even kept up his pretence with Mrs Lilley's daughter, who at this stage was pregnant with Hollie Jean.

"He crouched by my side and holding my hand informed me of my mother's death. He then took me into her flat and I saw mum lying on the bed, looking as if she was merely asleep."

Earlier that day, lorry driver Mr Lilley left for work at 5am. He learnt of his wife's death in a telephone call from Shipman. But this time Shipman had dropped the charade of caring GP.

Mr Lilley told the trial: "Dr Shipman said, 'I've been with your wife quite a while trying to persuade her to go to hospital but she won't go I was going to wait until you came home and come back and have a chat with you, but it was too late'.

"I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'Your not listening to me carefully, you don't understand'."

It was at that stage that Mr Lilley realised his wife had died.

Sadly, Mr Lilley himself died in 2001. His death brought tributes from local football authorities for his sterling service to the game in Tameside.